Special Needs

First Nations-specific | Inuit-specific | Métis-specific

Resources on understanding and meeting the special needs of young children on topics such as autism and FAS/FASD.

General:

Steps in the Right Direction: Connecting and Collaborating in Early Intervention Therapy with Aboriginal Families
(new guide published July 2007)
A guide developed for occupational therapists (O.T.), physiotherapists (P.T.) and speech language pathologists (S.L.P.) who provide early intervention therapy services to Aboriginal children, families and communities in British Columbia.
Source: BC Aboriginal Child Care Society

FASD Training Study
During 2005, First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada joined in partnership with Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada to conduct a study to better understand FASD services and non-academic FASD training in First Nations and Inuit communities across Canada. The study was designed to capture an overall understanding of the kinds of FASD services available in First Nations and Inuit communities and, the extent of FASD training opportunities available to First Nations and Inuit service providers and community members.

Baby Steps: Caring for Babies with Prenatal Substance Exposure
This caregiver guide is intended to be a hands-on resource for parents and caregivers of babies who have been prenatally exposed to alcohol and other drugs. Information for the handbook was gathered from various sources, including parents, caregivers, professionals and published books and articles. The information in this guide focuses on the day care of babies aged birth to 6 months of age who have been exposed to substances in the womb.

Source: The BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres and the Ministry of Children and Family Development Aboriginal Infant Development Programs 2003

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Among Aboriginal People in Canada: Review and Analysis of the Intergenerational Links to Residential Schools
This report examines FAS/ARBEs in light of current discussions that identify intergenerational effects that are linked to, or are a result of, the residential school system.

Source: Prepared for the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, 2003.

A Guide for Culturally-Focused Early Intervention Therapy Programs for Aboriginal Children and Families in British Columbia. (2007)
Guide developed to provide Aboriginal communities with information about early intervention therapy so that they can help families access early intervention therapy services, advocate for funding for early intervention therapy services, and artner with early intervention therapists.

Source: BC Aboriginal Child Care Society

Alcohol & Pregnancy
The Public Health Agency of Canada has developed this site to provide basic information on FASD and to let you know what we're doing about FASD. This site also contains up-to-date news on FASD, as well as links to important resources.

Government of British Columbia: Teaching Students with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
What are FAS and FAE? Since antiquity, people have suspected that alcohol can harm a developing fetus...

Substance Use and Treatment of Addictions
Here you will find information on the issues of use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, drugs and solvents. You will also be able to access the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program (NNADAP) Treatment Centre Directory which provides a summary of basic information on all in-patient treatment centres funded by the NNADAP.

Health Canada FAS Website
It is designed to inspire the planning and implementation of policies and programs that prevent FASD - through the efforts of those in communities, provinces, territories and at the national level.

Guarding the Unborn Spirit
A compelling video, poster & flyer with personal stories from Aboriginal families & children about living with & preventing FASD.

Let's Talk FASD
In an effort to respond to the needs of those caring for and working with children and adults with FASD, VON Canada has developed parent-driven best practice parenting guidelines for children and adults with FASD as a result of a four year project funded under the Public Health Agency of Canada's FASD National Strategic Projects Fund. These parent-driven guidelines have evolved from the first hand experience of those living with FASD and those that care for them and respond to a community need for tips, techniques and strategies that are empirically proven by parents themselves.

FASD Tool Kit for Aboriginal Communities
Prepared by the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres. This Tool Kit was prepared as a “user-friendly” resource to help front line workers working with children, youth, adults and families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

Adopting.com
Resources for Special Needs Children.

The Saskatchewan Fetal Alcohol Support Network
The Saskatchewan Fetal Alcohol Support Network sends out fact sheets of information and ideas, tips and hints, resources and Websites to keep its membership informed. An updated version of the FASD tips has just been added. Links to the updated FASD Tips are provided. They may be printed, copied and distributed.

Research Brief - Inclusive Child Care in Northern BC
Produced in partnership between the Centre of Excellence for Children and Adolescents with Special Needs: UNBC Task Force on Substance Abuse and the Caledonia Branch of the Early Childhood Educators of British Columbia

Inclusive child care seeks to include children with special needs with their typically developing peers in child care settings. Inclusive Child Care is known as Supported Child Care in the province of British Columbia. Supported Child Care replaced the Special Needs Day Care program (SNDC). The decision to make the transition away from SNDC to inclusive child care started in the early 1990's. The Supported Child Care program was phased in over a four year period (1995-1999).

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